Eisenkot wants to “renew relations” with the US as future Israeli PM

O party leader Yashar!, Gadi Eisenkot, who seeks to replace Benjamin Netanyahu in the leadership of the government in Israel, said today that he intends to “renew and strengthen” relations with the United States following parliamentary elections in both countries.

In a rare statement in English addressed to “all friends in the United States and around the world”, the former chief of the armed forces sought to present himself as a trusted partner of Washington, Israel’s main ally, which held legislative elections on 27 October.

The results left the country in a political stalemate and without a name yet to lead the future executive, while in the United States the Democratic opposition secured control of the two chambers of Congress in the mid-term elections held on Tuesday.

The alliance between the United States and Israel is being called into question by several Democratic politicians, due to the devastating Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip in response to the attacks of the Islamist Hamas group on October 7, 2023.

In this context, the victory of the American Democrats causes concern in Israel, where the opposition accuses Netanyahu of having weakened relations with Washington.

“ Under my leadership, we will renew and strengthen this partnership and consolidate the bipartisan bases that have supported it for a long time,” Eisenkot said.

The bond between Israel and the United States “is more than an alliance between governments, a partnership between peoples, built over generations and based on shared democratic values,” he added.

Although US President Donald Trump publicly declared his support for Netanyahu before the Israeli elections, Eisenkot also said he was “anxious to work closely and constructively” with the White House leader to “strengthen regional stability” in the Middle East.

“Israel will continue to be one of the most reliable and capable strategic partners of the United States in the Middle East, a mutually beneficial partnership for both peoples,” continued Yashar’s leader!.

These statements arise after Donald Trump announced the imminent end of the annual aid of USD 3.8 billion (about EUR 3.3 billion) from the United States to Israeli security by buying weapons.

Washington assistance began in 2019, lasting ten years. The agreement had been signed three years earlier by former Democratic President Barack Obama.

In the aftermath of the legislatures in Israel, neither the bloc of parties supporting Netanyahu nor the Jewish opposition, which united after the vote around Eisenkot's name to lead the executive, achieved an absolute majority in parliament.

The two Arab forces emerged as potentially decisive in achieving a record result of 19 Members, but their support is not consensual between the Zionist opposition.

The Israeli President has today begun consultations with the parties in a series of meetings that will be held on Thursday, and is still open if he is going to invite Netanyahu or Eisenkot to form government.

The current chief executive advocates the creation of a “government of national unity”, grouping the Jewish forces, while the former general seeks an executive of “national emergency”, supported by the opposition and without Netanyahu.